Cabinet latching mechanism



Jan. 10, 1967 L. E. BARSTOW 3,297,376

CABINET LATCHING MECHANISM Filed Nov. 2, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

[aarmre [flaws/0w ATTORNEY v Jan. 10, 1967 L. E. BARSTOW 3,297,376

CABINET LATCHING MECHANI SM Filed Nov, 2. 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. [m4 rerwfBmts/ow A TO RNEYS United States Patent O 3,297,376 CABINET LATCHING MECHANISM Laurence E. Barstow, Kalamazoo, Mich., assignor to American Metal Products, Kalamazoo, MiclL, a corporation of Michigan Filed Nov. 2, 1964, Ser. No. 408,141 6 Claims. (Cl. 312-219) The present invention relates to an improved cabinet locking system. More particularly, the invention relates to a new and improved cabinet locking system adaptable for use with various types of cabinets, but particularly suitable for locking a double walled cabinet which utilizes doors.

The keeping of files, records and the like is of vital concern to various institutions and industries since the storage of such items is critical as well as being expensive and sometimes burdensome. Commensurate with the vast numbers, types and uses of files, filing systems and records, there are in existence a multitude of types of storage cabinets or the like. Often a storage cabinet is fabricated to serve a specific purpose, which cannot be served by existing cabinets, and which, when invented, fills a significant void in the art.

The demand for various types of cabinets to serve various specific purposes has also precipitated a need for a multitude of different locking systems to be utilized with these various cabinets. The variety of cabinets in existence have many differences. For example, some take the form of desks with drawers, others are generally rectangular in cross-section and utilize either drawers or doors. The specific locking system used with a certain type cabinet depends upon the manner in which the cabinet is utilized and for what purpose the cabinet is locked.

When, for example, a cabinet takes the form of a desk with drawers on opposite sides of the knee space, it is desirable to utilize a locking system which may :be operated from one position to lock all of the drawers. Also, most locking systems used in desks allow the locking system to be locked with one or more of the drawers open but which locks the drawers when the drawer is moved into its closed position. Such a locking system is disclosed in United States Patent 1,422,631, issued to I. A. Stafford, wherein there is shown a rotatable bar disposed adjacent each row of drawers in the desk andoperable by a link connected to a key lock to rotate the bar to move spring biased dogs into position to engage the respective drawers. The system taught by the Stafford patent accomplishes the purposes for which it is intended but is not satisfactory for use in a cabinet utilizing doors where each door must be locked at each end thereof by a rigid and rugged locking device which utilizes a minimum of elements.

Other cabinets take the form of a generally cubical member with drawers slidably disposed through one wall thereof. The locking systems utilized in these type cabinets are almost infinite; however, the locking systems are generally of two basic types. In the first type the locking device is disposed in the cabinet and moves to contact the drawers. In the second type at least a portion of the locking device is disposed within one or more of the drawers.

The first type is illustrated by the United States patents: 1,695,896, issued to B. M. Holden; 1,909,848, issued to B. G. Rand; and 2,992,056, issued to H. J. Thielker. Each device disclosed utilizes a locking member which is disposed within a cabinet along one side of the drawers. None of these locking systems, however, have the attributes of the instant invention wherein a cabinet having a plurality of doors can be locked securely by securing both ends of each door by a locking system which is 3,297,376 Patented Jan. 10, 1967 ice simple in construction, yet rugged enough to provide a sturdy fastening of the doors.

The second type locking system utilized with drawer cabinets is illustrated by United States Patent 2,829,021, issued to C. F. Wolters. In this patent part of the locking system is disposed within one of the drawers of the cabinet. Upon actuation of a combination lock in the face of one of the drawers a combination of mechanically linked elements are operated to lock the drawers. Such a system is satisfactory but cannot fulfill the function of the instant invention. For example, the instant locking device is void of a variety of intricate elements, such as small springs,- and is disposed independent of the doors or drawers in the cabinet.

Another locking system which utilizes a variety of interconnected elements to form a mechanism to lock a plurality of closure members, such as doors, in a cabinet is illustrated by the United States Patent 2,930,666, issued to C. I. Ibel. The Ibel patent discloses a locking mechanism with locking members disposed within a cabinet on each side of doors, but difiers from the instant invention by utilizing a different combination of elements to perform a different mode of operation.

It is, therefore, the general purpose of this invention to provide an improved storage cabinet locking system which has the advantages and capabilities of the prior art devices but which is suitable for fulfilling specific needs of particular storage systems. To obtain the desired results, the present invention contemplates the unique and novel arrangement of elements to provide an improved cabinet locking system which is capable of being used with storage cabinets of various types but particularly with those of the double wall type having hinged doors thereon.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a novel cabinet locking system capable of securing a cabinet having a plurality of closures by the operation on one lock to simultaneously secure the closure members by engaging opposite extremities of each respective closure member.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a cabinet locking system which is simple in construction by way of the utilization of a minimum of elements.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a cabinet locking system which is maintenance free.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a storage cabinet utilizing the locking system of the instant invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIGURE 1, showing a general side view of the locking system;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the filing cabinet of FIGURE 1 taken along line 3-3 and shows the disposition of the lock relative to the remainder of the locking system;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged sectional view looking downward into the cabinet as if the upper or top wall were missing to show the locking system of the cabinet;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of the locking bar and linkage of the locking system; and

FIGURE 6 is a cross-sectional view looking downward on the locking bar of an alternative embodiment of the present invention.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, there is shown in FIGURE 1 a perspective view of the cabinet and locking means of the instant invention; In the illustrative embodiment of the present invention, shown in FIGURES 1 through 5, there is a cabinet, generally shown at 10, having faces, walls, or sides 12, 14, 16 and 18. One face, or side, of the cabinet 14 has apertures 20 therein which are closed by the closure members, or doors 22, which in the illustrative embodiment are hinged in the apertures 24 along the bottom edge 24. A lock 26 is shown in the face 14 of the filing cabinet. As is illustrated in FIGURE 1 in phantom, lock 26 is connected through a suitable linkage to elongated bars along either side, or either end, of the respective doors 22, so as to lock the doors in a closed position in the apertures.

As is shown in FIGURES 2 through 5, a pin receiving or securing means 28, which is attached to the filing cabinet between the double walls of one side 16 at the top of the cabinet and adjacent the face 14. A second pin receiving means 30 is secured to the cabinet between the double walls of the same side of the cabinet but at the lower end thereof. As is shown in FIGURE 1, there are four such pin receiving means, two between the walls of each double side at the top and bottom of the cabinet.

Pins 32 are secured to each end of an elongate member, or locking bar 34, to rotatably support the elongate member 34 in the pin receiving members 28 and 30. Again referring to FIGURE 1, an elongate member 34 is disposed at each end of the doors 22 of the cabinet. Disposed along each elongate member or plate 34 is a plurality of fingers 36, which, as is best shown in FIG- URES 4 and 6, engage the doors 22 by extending within an aperture 23 formed in the end wall thereof.

It is to be understood that the invention is applicable to a cabinet utilizing any number of doors and furthermore any appropriate number of fingers may be employed to engage each respective door.

As is best seen in FIGURES 3 and 4, a rotatable key lock 26 is mounted in the front face 14 of the cabinet adjacent the top thereof. A pair of links or rods 38 are respectively pivotally connected at their inner ends to the outer ends of a lock crank 40 so that the inner end of each rod is disposed on opposite sides of the axis of rotation of the crank. Thus, when lock crank 41 is operated by rotating the key 27, the rods 38 move in opposite directions.

The outer ends of links 38 are respectively articulated through pins 44 to hinges 42 which are, in turn, attached to locking bar 34 by any well known means such as brazing or welding.

In the operation of the locking device, a key 27 is inserted into the lock 26 whereby crank 40 may be rotated to either of two positions. In the locked position, shown in FIGURES l and 4, links 38 hold the locking bars 34 in a position parallel to the respective sides 12 and 16 of the cabinet so that the fingers 36 are parallel to the front side face 14. In this position fingers 36 extend through apertures in the cabinet walls 12 and 16 and aligned apertures in doors 22 to retain the latter in a locked position.

As shown in FIGURE 2, the doors are double walled type so that the fingers 36 extend between the walls of each respective door to secure the door in its respective aperture 20. It is to be noted, however, that the doors 22 need not necessarily be of the double wall type but may utilize any appropriate means for the fingers 36 to engage, such as, for example, a piece of angle iron attached to the doors.

In the second or unlocked position of lock 26, crank 40 is rotated to move links 38 outwardly from the center of the cabinet rotating the locking bars 34 to the position shown in dotted lines in FIGURE 6 wherein fingers 36 are retracted from door apertures 23. In the embodi ment illustrated in FIGURE 6, there is a slightly modified link and pivotal connection between the link and the locking bar 34. Additionally, a different means is utilized for pivotally securing the locking bar 34 to the cabinet 10. A bracket 46 is suitably secured, as by welding or brazing, to the inner wall of the side 16 of the cabinet. Locking bar 34 is pivotably secured to bracket 46 through a pin 48. Rather than a hinge arrangement, the embodiment of FIGURE 6 utilizes an extension, or flange 50, formed integrally with or suitably connected to other appropriate means, to the locking bar 34 and is pivotally connected through a pin 52 to a link 54. As previously described, link 54 is articulatably connected to the lock 26 disposed in the front face 14 of the cabinet. Link 54 lays in a horizontal rather than a vertical plane as does link 38, shown in FIGURES 1 through 5. Link 54 may be connected to lock 26 in the same manner as the'link 38 of FIGURES 1 through 5 by having a twist in the link 54 along its length so that that portion of link 54 connected to the lock lies in a vertical plane.

As alluded to previously, the cabinet locking system may take various forms including one in which only one elongate member or locking bar 34 is utilized. However, in the preferred form of the invention, as illustrated, a pair of locking members is employed. It is also to be understood that it is within the intended scope of this invention that the locking system herein set forth may be employed with cabinets which utilize drawers wherein the locking fingers engage the drawers to retain them in a closed position.

As is apparent from the foregoing description, the present invention provides a unique cabinet locking system to be utilized in combination with a cabinet to secure the cabinet, which locking system is simple in design, easily operable and exceptionally sturdy.

The invention has been described in an illustrative manner and it is to be understood that the terminology which has been used herein is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than of limitation.

Obviously, many additional modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than is specifically described.

I claim:

1. A cabinet having apertures along one side thereof comprising:

closure members insertable in said respective apertures,

first and second elongated bars,

a plurality of fingers rigidly attached to and extending from said respective bars,

a pin attached to each end of each of said bars,

pin receiving means disposed within and attached to said cabinet for rotatably supporting said bars respectively along opposite extremities of said apertures,

finger receiving means on a first end of each of said closure members for engaging said fingers of said first bar,

finger receiving means on a second end of each of said closure members for engaging said fingers of said second bar,

a lock disposed in said cabinet, and

linkage means connecting said lock and each respective bar for rotating said bars to engage and disengage said respective fingers with said finger receiving means of said closure members to lock and unlock said closure members.

2. A cabinet as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said closure members are doors hinged to said cabinet in respective apertures, and

wherein said doors are hinged at a horizontal edge thereof in each respective aperture.

3. An improved cabinet comprising:

closure members operably engageable with said cabinet for insertion into apertures in one face of said cabinet,

a first pin receiving means attached to said cabinet at the lower end thereof adjacent said face having said apertures therein,

a second pin receiving means attached to said cabinet at the upper end thereof adjacent said face having said apertures therein,

first and second pins respectively rotatably engaging said first and second pin receiving means,

an elongated member attached at each end thereof to said first and second pins respectively,

a plurality of fingers integral with said elongated member and disposed therealong,

said fingers extending from said elongated member in a first direction for a predetermined distance then extending in a second direction normal to said first direction for a predetermined distance,

a rotatable lock means disposed in said face of said cabinet,

said lock means having a degree of rotational movement wherein at one extreme of movement said lock means is open and at the opposite extreme of movement said lock means is locked, and

linkage means connecting said lock means and said elongated member to rotate said elongated member for engaging said fingers With said closure members when said lock means is in the locked position and for disengaging said fingers from said closure members when said lock means is in the open position.

4. An improved cabinet as set forth in claim 3 wheresaid linkage means comprises a hinge connected to said elongated member, and

a link connected to said hinge at one end thereof and to said lock means at the opposite end thereof Whereby upon rotational movement of said lock means said elongated member rotates.

5. A cabinet as set forth in claim 3 including:

a second elongated member rotatably mounted by pins in third and fourth pin receiving means attached to said cabinet,

a plurality of fingers integral with said second elongated member and disposed therealong,

second linkage means connecting said lock and said second member for rotating said second member to engage said fingers thereon with respective closure members along a first end thereof, and

said first mentioned elongated member being disposed in said cabinet adjacent the second end of said respective closure members for allowing said fingers along said first mentioned elongated member to engage said respective closure members along said second end thereof.

6. In combination;

a cabinet,

said cabinet having double Walls,

said cabinet having a top and a bottom and four sides,

said cabinet having apertures in a first side thereof,

a door hinged to said cabinet at a horizontal edge of each respective aperture,

a first pin receiving means secured to said cabinet between said double walls of a second side thereof at the top of said cabinet and adjacent said first side,

a second pin receiving means secured to said cabinet between said double walls of said second side at the bottom of said cabinet and adjacent said first side,

a third pin receiving means secured to said cabinet between said double walls of a third side thereof at the top of said cabinet and adjacent said first side,

a fourth pin receiving means secured to said cabinet between said double walls of said third side at the bottom of said cabinet and adjacent said first side,

first and second elongated members,

pins secured to each end of said elongated members,

said pins of said first elongated member rotatably mounted in said first and second pin receiving means,

said pins of said second elongated member rotatably mounted in said third and fourth pin receiving means,

a plurality of fingers attached to said elongated members for locking engagement with said doors,

said fingers of said first elongated member, when in the locked position, extend from said first elongated member in a direction parallel said second side and then extend through the inner Wall of said second side in a direction parallel said first side to engage said respective doors along a first end thereof,

said fingers of said second elongated member, when in the locked position, extend from said first elongated member in a direction parallel said third side and then extend through the inner wall of said third side in a direction parallel said first side to engage said respective doors along a second end thereof,

a rotatable key lock disposed in said cabinet in said first side thereof adjacent the top of said cabinet, said lock having a first and second position of rotational movement,

a first link pivotably connected at one end thereof to said lock at one side of the axis of rotation of said lock,

a second link pivotably connected at one end thereof to said lock on the opposite side of said axis of rotation to the connection of said first link,

a first hinge connected to said first elongated member adjacent the top of said cabinet,

a second hinge connected to said second elongated member adjacent the top of said cabinet,

said first link connected at the second end thereof to said first hinge,

said second link connected at the second end thereof to said second hinge,

means on said first end of said respective doors for engaging said fingers of said first elongated member When said respective doors are closed, and

means on said second end of said respective doors for engaging said fingers of said second elongated member when said respective doors are closed, whereby upon the closure of said doors and rotational movement of said lock to said first position, said first and second links respectively rotate said first and second elongated members, which moves said fingers of said first elongated member through the inner wall of said second side and into engagement with said first end of said doors and moves said fingers of said second elongated member through the inner wall of said third side and into engagement with said second end of said doors thereby to lock said doors in the closed position and whereupon rotation of said lock to said second position said elongated members are rotated to disengage said fingers from said respective doors to allow said respective doors to be opened.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,926,897 9/1933 Freiberg 312-219 1,928,265 9/ 1933 Rand 312-217 2,828,177 3/1958 Johnson 312-217 2,842,419 7/ 1958 Howard 312-218 2,930,666 3/1960 Ibel 312-218 2,992,056 7/1961 Thielker 312-221 3,033,634 5/ 1962 Ribbens et al 312-219 FOREIGN PATENTS 142,633 7/ 1951 Australia. 222,292 7/ 1962 Austria.

CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner.

CHANCELLOR E. HARRIS, Examiner. 

1. A CABINET HAVING APERTURES ALONG ONE SIDE THEREOF COMPRISING: CLOSURE MEMBERS INSERTABLE IN SAID RESPECTIVE APERTURES, FIRST AND SECOND ELONGATED BARS, A PLURALITY OF FINGERS RIGIDLY ATTACHED TO AND EXTENDING FROM SAID RESPECTIVE BARS, A PIN ATTACHED TO EACH END OF EACH OF SAID BARS, PIN RECEIVING MEANS DISPOSED WITHIN AND ATTACHED TO SAID CABINET FOR ROTATABLY SUPPORTING SAID BARS RESPECTIVELY ALONG OPPOSITE EXTREMITIES OF SAID APERTURES, FINGER RECEIVING MEANS ON A FIRST END OF EACH OF SAID CLOSURE MEMBERS FOR ENGAGING SAID FINGERS OF SAID FIRST BAR, FINGER RECEIVING MEANS ON A SECOND END OF EACH OF SAID CLOSURE MEMBERS FOR ENGAGING SAID FINGERS OF SAID SECOND BAR, A LOCK DISPOSED IN SAID CABINET, AND LINKAGE MEANS CONNECTING SAID LOCK AND EACH RESPECTIVE BAR FOR ROTATING SAID BARS TO ENGAGE AND DISENGAGE SAID RESPECTIVE FINGERS WITH SAID FINGER RECEIVING MEANS OF SAID CLOSURE MEMBERS TO LOCK AND UNLOCK SAID CLOSURE MEMBERS. 